Caesar's Column eBook

Ignatius Donnelly
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about Caesar's Column.

Caesar's Column eBook

Ignatius Donnelly
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about Caesar's Column.

“You may be sure that that night the public took the variety theater by storm; every seat was filled; the very aisles were crowded with men standing; the beer flowed in streams and the tobacco-smoke rose in clouds; the establishment was doing a splendid business.  Christina was down on the bills for three solos.  Each one was a triumph—­encore followed encore—­and when the performance closed the little singer was called before the curtain and another Danae shower of silver and gold, and some bouquets, fell around her.  When I went behind the scenes I found the happy girl surrounded by even a larger circle of admirers than the night before, each one sounding her praises.  I called the manager aside.  He knew me well as a rich young spendthrift.  I said to him: 

“‘How much a week do you pay Christina?’

“‘I promised her,’ said he, ‘five dollars a week; but,’ and here he looked at me suspiciously, ’I have determined to double it.  I shall pay her ten.’

“‘That is not enough,’ I said; ’you will find in her a gold mine.  You must pay her fifty.’

“‘My dear sir,’ he said, ‘I cannot afford it.  I really cannot.’

“‘Well,’ said ’I will speak to Jobson [a rival in business]; he will pay her a hundred.  I saw him here to-night.  He has already heard of her.’

“‘But,’ said he, ’she has contracted with me to sing for three months, at five dollars per week; and I have permitted her to take home all the money that was thrown on the stage last night and to-night.  Now I shall pay her ten.  Is not that liberal?’

“‘Liberal!’ I said; ’it is hoggish.  This girl has made you two hundred dollars extra profit to-night.  She is under age.  She cannot make a binding contract.  And the money that was thrown to her belongs to her and not to you.  Come, what do you say—­shall I speak to Jobson?’

“‘What interest have you in this girl?’ he asked, sullenly.

“‘That is no matter of yours,’ I replied; ’if you will not pay her what I demand, to-morrow night she will sing for Jobson, and your place will be empty.’

“‘Well,’ said he, ’I will pay it; but I don’t see what right you have to interfere in my business.’

“‘That is not all,’ I said; ’go to her now and tell her you have made a good deal of money to-night, by her help, and ask her to accept fifty dollars from you as a present; and tell her, in my hearing, that she is to receive fifty dollars a week hereafter.  The family are very poor, and need immediate help.  And besides, if she does not know that she is to receive a liberal salary, when the agents of the other houses come for her, she may leave you.  Fair play is the wisest thing.’

“He thought a moment; he was very angry with me; but finally he swallowed his wrath, and pushed his way through the crowd to where Christina stood, and said to her with many a bow and smile: 

“’Miss Christina, your charming voice has greatly increased my business to-night; and I think it only fair to give you a part of my profits—­here are fifty dollars.’

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Caesar's Column from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.